Automobile or highway signal



Filed Mrch 6, 1957 Sheesv--Emei l NVE J. C. NoRnGRA/v AUTOMOBILE OR HXGHWAY SIGNAL Filed March 6, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

76 Xf J'. C. NORDGRAN I BY W /4 ATTOR EY.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 6, 1937 FEE-3-12- Im w E E m l im; E W i W F M W1 i, W M

-15-FIE-17.

STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE R HIGHWAY SIGNAL James C. Nordgran, Salt Lake City, Utah Application March 6, 1937, Serial No. 129,421

2 Claims.

"l: invention relates to safety signals,

. neral object ci the invention is to. pron fel signal particularly adapted for use Lnobile signal for indicating a left or *n and stop warning.

e specific object oi the invention is to i novel automobile safety signal includ- .igbis to warn when apparatus is out of object o the invention is to provide oi .my invention is to provide a red to he operated by either a om the following descripwith the accompanying ein:

elevation ci an improved safety ne' the features of my invention;

'ated on the 'fit elevation of the safety signal en rear of an autotaiten online 6-6 Fig. 4;

section showing the l the socket member;

vie iuular to Fig. 'I showing the other position;

,is fragmentary central, sectional view the socket members for holding a neon 'il is view similar to Fig. 27 showing a Flection of my invention;

c Wiring diagram for the bulbs;

s a wiring diagram for the neon tubes; is a fragmentary, top plan view of the mounted on the steering wheel;

is e. plan ci" the blank for making the so t and bracket;

grnentary, sectional view of a l is side 1v oi' the light mounting; E a eleve-tion of the spring con- `cent ele .tion of thek dash board il is a pian the blank for making the lot light sockets;

Sie is s. sectional View of the push button;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the steering wheel showing the push button;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary, side elevation of the automatic switch and component parts;

Fig. 23 is a top plan view of the automatic switch;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary, sectional side View of the automatic switch; and

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the automatic switch.

Referring to the drawings by reference char acter I have shown my invention as embodied in a signal which is indicated generally at III. As shown the signal comprises a housing II which may be made of sheet metal or other suitable material. The housing includes a front I2 and a back I3.

As shown the back I3 is cupped and includes a base I4 (Fig. 6) which extends thereacross and which may be secured in place by rivets I5 which pass through tongues I6. The base I4 is provided with a plurality of partitions Il which form compartments I8, I9, and 2i.

The base is also provided with apertures through which contact members 22 extend and which will be presently described.

The back is provided With a lower aperture E3 over which a glass pane] 24 is mounted to illuminato the license plate. The front I2 includes a peripheral band 25 and a front portion 26 with a sealing gasket 2l at the juncture of the portions. Suitable set screws 28 may be employed to hold the front I2 in place.

In the drawings I show the signal which is adapted to bey placed on the front of the automobile in Fig. 3 and the signal which is adapted to be placed in the rear of the automobile in Fig. 4. The general configuration of the iront and rear signals is the same but the indicia thereon is dierent.

Each of the fronts I2 is provided with apen tures 29, 3U, 3l and 32 which are disposed in front of the compartments Ill,v I9, 20 and 2E respectively. The apertures 29, 3B, 3l and ,it re ceive glass panels 33, 34, and 36 respectively.

The 'panels 33 and 34 are made of suitable colored glass or other semi-transparent material and include pointing hands with the letters R and L respectively thereon. The panel 36 included in the rear signal isa tail light and in the front constitutes a suitable colored light. In the panel 35 in the rear signal I provide the Word stop vwhile in the panel 35 in the front llight may be suitably colored or otherwise provided as with the initials of the owner of the automobile.

The panels 33, 34, 35 and 38 are held at the!" edges by being engaged between a retaining ange 31 (see Fig. 6) and the overhangng Portion of the front |2. The panels 35 are also held in place by spring tongues 38 on the edge of the partition member forming the upper partition while the inner edge of the panels 33 and 34 are engaged by similar spring tongues 39 on the partition member |1 and panels 36 are held in place by spring tongues 40 on the center partition members (see Fig. 1).

The back I3 is provided with screws 4| which hold brackets 42 in place. These brackets are provided with slots 43 through which suitable fastening means may be inserted for securing the signals in place. Suitable shields 43 may be secured above the panels.

The back is also provided with a conduit member 44 through which the leads to the lamps, presently to be described, may pass to the source of Current.

The compartment |8 is provided with spaced socket members 45, 46 and 41 which are connected by wires 48, 49 and 50 respectively to a source of current. These socket members 45, 40 and 41 receive a V-shaped neon tube 5|. In the compartment I9 I provide similar socket members 52, 53 and 54 which are connected by wires 55, 56 and 51 respectively with the source of current. In these socket members 55, 55 and 51 a neon tube 58 is mounted.

In the compartment 20 I provide a pair of socket members 59 and 60 which are connected by wires 6| and 62 with the source of current and which receive a neon tube 63.

In the compartment 2| I show socket members S4 and 65 which are connected by leads 66 and 61 with the current source and in which I provide a neon tube 68. The sockets 45, 46 and 41, etc., in which the neon tubes are mounted may be of any type by means of which the electrodes on the neon tubes may be placed ln circuit with the source of electricity. Instead of the Vshaped neon tube I may use straight tubes in which case the sockets 46 and 53 will not be used.

Pivotally mounted in the compartments I8, I9, 20 and 2| I show socket members E9, 10, 1| and 12. These socket members are all identical and the description of one, for instance 10 as shown in Fig. 1, will suilce for all.

As shown the socket 89 includes a cylindrical member 13 in which an incandescent bulb 14 is mounted. The member 13 is mounted on an arm 15 which is pivoted as at 16 to the base |4. The terminal 11 of the tubular member 13 projects through an aperture 18 in the base and thus is held against moving.

The purpose of providing both neon tubes and incandescent bulbs in each compartment is to enable ready repair to be made in case one o! the tubes should be broken when the driver of the vehicle is away from a source of supply of neon tubes. In this case he would merely remove the neon tubes and swing the arm A15 to the dotted line position in Fig. 1 in which position the pin 11 would pass into an aperture 19 in a contact member mounted on the base I4. The pin 11 would thus make contact through a conducting member or tube 8| with a wire 82 which is connected to it.

The tube 8| in the compartment I9 is connected by a lead 83 with the source of power while the incandescent lamp bulb socket in the compartment 20 is connected by lead 84 with the source of power and the bulb socket in the compartment 2| is connected by a lead 85 with the power source.

In some cases I may provide a modified form of mounting for the neon tube and incandescent bulb as shown in Fig. 10 wherein the tube is indicated at 88 and is connected to the current source by leads which correspond with the leads 55, 56, and 51 previously described while the lamp socket tube 89 is mounted on an arm 90 which pivots on a post 9|. The arm 90 extends above the neon tube 86 and the tubular member 89 is connected by the pin 92, conducting member 93, screw 94 with the lead 95 which corresponds to the lead 82 previously described.

In the use of my invention I prefer to provide a pair of pilot lights which are shown at 96 in Fig. 13 and which are mounted in a bracket 91 which may be made from the blank shown in Fig. 14 and which may be secured around a steering column 98 of an automobile.

In Figs. 15, 16 and 17 I show a modiied form of lamp socket including a combined socket member 99 and securing bracket |00 with a contact member |0|. The member |00 may be secured to suitable support while the contact member |0| may be secured in place by a screw |02.

In Fig. 18 I show a modied form of pilot light which is indicated generally at |03, and which includes a base |04 on which a pair of lamp socket members |05 are mounted. These members |05 may be made from the blank shown in Fig. 19 and the members are provided with contacts |01 which are connected by leads |08 with the source of power.

For illuminating the signal I may provide a push button |09 as shown in Figs. 20 and 21 which may be mounted on the steering wheel ||0 and which includes a base ||I having one fixed contact ||2 thereon and having a spring contact ||3 and a push button ||4 by means of which the contact may be brought together. Insulation ||5 serves to space the contact normally apart and the parts are held together by means of screws ||8.

In Figs. 22 to 25 inclusive I show an automatic I safety signal switch which is indicated generally at |20. As shown this switch includes a housing |2| which is adapted to be secured by straps |22 to a steering wheel.

which are connected to binding posts |24 and a central contact member |25 which is connected to a binding post |25.

A circuit closer |21 slides within the housing and is normally pressed against one side of the housing yby springs |20. The circuit closer includes upwardly extending arms |29 which are adapted to be engaged by a pin |30 mounted on the steering wheel ||0 of the vehicle. The construction is such that when the steering wheel is turned in one direction the pin |30 moves into engagement with one of the arms |29 thus moving the circuit closer in the direction in which the pin is moving and causing a circuit to be f The housing includes transversally extending contact members |23 It will be under` alegato Tit i are arranged shown as stood that th-es side by side a la separate Vfor the The source oi power is i3d from which leads switch ESE by means oi t non eu rected either to the spa the neon tubes or through the amr use with. the circuit to the incC i it .'.fulbs In each circuit a circuit closer plotted which engages the contacts it@ to cause actuation of the signal.

The ieit hand signai lights, the right hand signal iights the tail and stop lights are indicated by reference characters previously employed. in connection with these elements while a pilot light for the leit hand signal is indicated at Uli and a pilot light for the right hand signal is indicated at |42.

In the use oi. my invention the signal lights are installed on the vehicle and when the steering wheel is turned for a left hand turn the front and rear left signal lights will be illuminated to indicate such turn and when the wheel is turned to straight ahead position the signal will be extinguished.

In case the neon tube should be broken or otherwise the circuit to the neon tubes interrupted these tubes can be removed and the incandescent bulbs pivoted to the proper position after which the switch 38 can be shifted and the signal operation will be restored. With the modification shown in Fig. l0 it is not necessary to remove the neon tubes since incandescent bulb mounting passes over these tubes.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel safety signal battery lo way fi-2 be di or wit" Etui for which can be economically manufactured and which is highly efficient in use.

Having thus described my intention l claim:

l. in a safety signal, a housing including iront., back, upper and lower portions, a partition niember in said housing having its ends engaging iii-: lower portion and extending upwardly to 'i a middle compartment, a pair of spaced parti-- tion members each engaging the first mentioned partition member and the upper portion of the housing to denne a top and a pair oi end compartments, said front portion having an overhanging peripheral portion and a retaining peripheral flange spaced therefrom, translucent closures for said compartments, said closures engaging between said overhanging portion, said retaining flange and said partitions4 2. In a safety signal, a housing including iront. back, upper and lower portions, a partition member in said housing having its ends engaging the lower portion and extending upwardly to form a middle compartment, a pair of spaced partition members each engaging the rst mentioned partition member and the upper portion of the housing to dene a top and a pair of end compartments, said front portion having an overhanging peripheral portion and a retaining peripheral flange spaced therefrom, translucent closures for said compartments, said closures engaging between said overhanging portion and said retaining flange and spring fingers on said partitions engaging said closures to assist in holding them in place, certain of the spring fingers on said first mentioned partition extending in one direction therefrom and other of the opening lingers extending in an opposite direction therefrom.

JAMES C. NORDGRAN. 

